Native Plants and Prairies Day, Bath House Cultural Center, May 6, 2023

The White Rock Lake Amateur Radio Club, WA5WRL, has been requested to support the radio communications for the Native Plants and Prairies Day held at the Bath House Cultural Center on May 6, 2023. We supported this event last year as well.

HOURS OF SUPPORT: 8:00AM to 4:00PM

• 1st Shift: 8:00AM to 12:00 noon
• 2nd Shift: 12:00 noon to 4:00PM

Volunteers can cover both shifts if they desire.

NET OPERATIONS: All radio net operations will be by VHF simplex, 147.52 MHZ. Since all support will be within 1/2 mile of the Bath House, 5 watt HTs are more than adequate for portable operations. An Event Operations Center (EOC) will be established in front of the Bath House building and will use a 10 watt radio.

RADIO POSITIONS:

• Event Operations Center (EOC) Net Controller (minimum one per shift)
• Shadow Comms (three requested per shift)
• Rovers (three requested per shift)

Volunteers can pick multiple positions if they desire (only one will be assigned at a time).

The table below shows the available positions and the current volunteers. We still need to have volunteers for the cells in the table that are highlighted in yellow.

To volunteer, check out the website: https://ntxnppd.org/radio

QUESTIONS??? Email Dave, K5YR at: dave@K5YR.com

Our Next Fox Hunt: May 6 & 7

Rocky, Bullwinkle, and Boris, those White Rock Lake radio foxes, will be released again on May 6 and 7 from 9 AM to 5 PM!

These fox hunts are always held in the White Rock Lake area, on pubic land and within a mile of the lake. Rocky transmits on 146.565 MHz FM, and a very low powered Bullwinkle is close by on 146.545 MHz. Boris is also close by on 146.580 MHz. Many club members are able to hear Rocky at their home QTH, so hunt for Rocky first, and then for Bullwinkle and lastly for Boris.

Listen for a distinctive set of warbling tones followed by a CW ID. Each transmission is about 20 seconds long and repeats each minute.

Radio fox hunts are scheduled at the lake on the first and third Saturday of each month.

Many thanks to Dave, K5YR, and David, KG5VSR, for hosting these fun events on behalf of the club for area hams to enjoy and to practice radio direction finding skills.

For more info, check out Rocky’s web site, https://ntxardf.org

Volunteers Needed: USA Radio Orienteering Championships

The 22nd USA Radio Orienteering Championships will be held April 19-23, 2023 at Cooper Lake State Park South Sulphur Springs Unit, near Sulphur Springs TX. Results of the competitions will help determine the members of Team USA who will compete in the Radio Orienteering World Championships scheduled for the fall of 2023 in Liberec, Czech Republic.

April 19th is set aside for radio direction-finding training and practice. The competitions will be held April 20-23.

The WRLARC has volunteered to coordinate area ham radio support for this national competitive event. Any amateur radio operator may volunteer to fill any needed position for the five days of the event.

Radio support is needed from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM daily. Different operators can support the activities on different days (i.e., volunteers do not need to support more than one day unless they desire to do so).

All radio net operations will be held on UHF simplex, 446.025 MHz. Since all support will be within two miles of the Event Operations Center (EOC) position, 5 watt HTs are more than adequate for portable operations. The EOC will be established in the Group Shelter at the park and will use a 35 watt radio and gain antennas.

Volunteers can pick multiple positions if they desire (however, only one
will be assigned at a time). Please consider volunteering to support this great activity!

For more information, including the Communications Plan, and to volunteer, visit ntxardf.org/radio-o

Our Next Fox Hunt: April 1 & 2

Rocky, Bullwinkle, and Boris, those White Rock Lake radio foxes, will be released again on April 1 & 2 from 9 AM to 5 PM!

These fox hunts are always held in the White Rock Lake area, on pubic land and within a mile of the lake. Rocky transmits on 146.565 MHz FM, and a very low powered Bullwinkle is close by on 146.545 MHz. Boris is also close by on 146.580 MHz. Many club members are able to hear Rocky at their home QTH, so hunt for Rocky first, and then for Bullwinkle and lastly for Boris.

Listen for a distinctive set of warbling tones followed by a CW ID. Each transmission is about 20 seconds long and repeats each minute.

Radio fox hunts are scheduled at the lake on the first and third Saturday of each month.

Many thanks to Dave, K5YR, and David, KG5VSR, for hosting these fun events on behalf of the club for area hams to enjoy and to practice radio direction finding skills.

For more info, check out Rocky’s web site, https://ntxardf.org

Our Next Fox Hunt: Mar 25 & 26

Rocky, Bullwinkle, and Boris, those White Rock Lake radio foxes, will be released again on March 25 & 26 from 9 AM to 5 PM!

These fox hunts are always held in the White Rock Lake area, on pubic land and within a mile of the lake. Rocky transmits on 146.565 MHz FM, and a very low powered Bullwinkle is close by on 146.545 MHz. Boris is also close by on 146.580 MHz. Many club members are able to hear Rocky at their home QTH, so hunt for Rocky first, and then for Bullwinkle and lastly for Boris.

Listen for a distinctive set of warbling tones followed by a CW ID. Each transmission is about 20 seconds long and repeats each minute.

Radio fox hunts are scheduled at the lake on the first and third Saturday of each month.

Many thanks to Dave, K5YR, and David, KG5VSR, for hosting these fun events on behalf of the club for area hams to enjoy and to practice radio direction finding skills.

For more info, check out Rocky’s web site, https://k5yr.com/foxhunt

Our Next Fox Hunt: Mar 16 & 17

Rocky and Bullwinkle, that wily pair of White Rock Lake radio foxes, will be released again on March 16 & 17 from 9 AM to 5 PM!

As an additional feature for this next hunt, we are adding in another transmitter: Boris Badenov, the Bad Boy of Radio Foxes. Boris is another low power fox, with a shorter antenna and has a propensity for being harder to find. Boris will be able to be heard from Bullwinkle but probably not from Rocky.

These fox hunts are always held in the White Rock Lake area, on pubic land and within a mile of the lake. Rocky transmits on 146.565 MHz FM, and a very low powered Bullwinkle is close by on 146.545 MHz. Boris is also close by on 146.580 MHz. Many club members are able to hear Rocky at their home QTH, so hunt for Rocky first, and then for Bullwinkle and lastly for Boris.

Listen for a distinctive set of warbling tones followed by a CW ID. Each transmission is about 20 seconds long and repeats each minute.

Radio fox hunts are scheduled at the lake on the first and third Saturday of each month.

Many thanks to Dave, K5YR, and David, KG5VSR, for hosting these fun events on behalf of the club for area hams to enjoy and to practice radio direction finding skills.

For more info, check out Rocky’s web site, https://k5yr.com/foxhunt

Our Next Fox Hunt: Feb 18 & 19

Rocky and Bullwinkle, that wily pair of White Rock Lake radio foxes, will be released again on February 18 and 19 from 9 AM to 5 PM!

These fox hunts are always held in the White Rock Lake area, on pubic land and within a mile of the lake. Rocky transmits on 146.565 MHz FM, and a very low powered Bullwinkle was close by on 146.545 MHz. Many club members are able to hear Rocky at their home QTH, so hunt for him first. If you find Rocky, then search for Bullwinkle.

Listen for a distinctive set of warbling tones followed by a CW ID. Each transmission is about 20 seconds long and repeats each minute.

Radio fox hunts are scheduled at the lake on the first and third Saturday of each month.

Many thanks to Dave, K5YR, and David, KG5VSR, for hosting these fun events on behalf of the club for area hams to enjoy and to practice radio direction finding skills.

For more info, check out Rocky’s web site, https://k5yr.com/foxhunt

HOUNDS WHO FOUND ROCKY DURING THE FEB 4 & 5 HUNT:

• KI5KTZ, Phillippe Lewis, 2023-02-04 17:27:53Z
• WB8QZM, Brian Murphy, 2023-02-04 20:27:04Z
• KN5EEE, Al Alexander , 2023-02-04 20:27:54Z
• NT5TM, Anthony Mendina, 2023-02-04 21:55:14Z
• KI5WZZ, Alberto Boisse, 2023-02-05 22:31:02Z
• W5WXY, Randy Durham, 2023-02-06 17:51:05Z

HOUNDS WHO FOUND BULLWINKLE:

• KN5EEE, Al Alexander, 2023-02-04 19:35:33Z
• WB8QZM, Brian Murphy, 2023-02-04 19:35:55Z
• NT5TM, Anthony Mendina, 2023-02-04 20:38:09Z
• KI5KTZ, Phillipe Lewis, 2023-02-04 23:23:22Z
• KI5WZZ, Alberto Boisse, 2023-02-05 22:53:03Z
• W5WXY, Randy Durham, 2023-02-06 17:52:41Z

Next fox hunt is scheduled for Feb 18 at 9AM through Feb 19 at 5PM.

“Wires in the Park” Spring Event March 25

NOTE: date changed from March 18 to March 25 due to COLD weather!

Dave K5YR has created an innovative concept called “Wires in the Park” and is hosting our third WRLARC event at Dreyfuss Point at White Rock Lake on Saturday March 25, 2023.

Prior WITP held at White Rock Lake and the Spring Creek Forest Preserve were a lot of fun and this one could be even better. Activities will include a demonstration of simple antenna techniques, QSOs with other clubs in the North Texas area, a demonstration of Radio Fox Hunting and more.

For a full list of activities, visit the Wires in the Park website, witp.info 

General Meeting February 15

The first post-pandemic in-person general membership meeting will be held February 15, 2023 at 6:30 PM in the meeting room at the REI store, 5929 E. Northwest Highway, Dallas. 

The club Board of Directors has developed a comprehensive list of planned activities and objectives for the upcoming year. Review and discussion of these plans will be the major focus of the evening. Additionally, we will be voting on club membership applications for two new members.

Going forward, HamClubOnline will be the primary membership database and event scheduling system for all WRLARC activities. Consequently, all members listed in groups.io need to log into HamClubOnline and apply for membership in the club. This is the only way to assure that everyone gets announcements and updates for future activities and credit for participating in our many planned activities

Update: here’s a photo taken before prior to our meeting at REI. From left to right: club President Dave K5YR. Gary AF5XZ and one of our newest hams, Alberto KI5WZZ.

White Rock Simplex Nets Continue

Each Wednesday at 7 PM, hams from White Rock Lake neighborhoods and throughout the Metroplex check in to our simplex net. “Simplex” means there is no repeater used to boost a ham’s signal across the city; each signal has to “stand on its own.” Since some members use low powered hand held transceivers whose signals may not reach all participants, net members are encouraged to relay in the callsigns of any weak signals.

All D/FW area hams are welcome to check in via radio. If outside of the Dallas area, hams can also check in to the net via Echolink at WA5WRL-L.